I need to make a full disclosure. I’m from Sweden. So, there’s no way for me to be unbiased here. ABBA is in many ways responsible for putting Sweden on the world map, and the closest thing to a national religion that we have, so don’t expect any blasphemy from me. ABBA is practically part of the school curriculum. In the US, children are taught to recite the pledge of allegiance, whereas Swedes are taught the lyrics to Mamma Mia. Well, maybe not, but only because it isn’t needed. They’ll learn it through osmosis simply by being Swedish. That wasn’t always the case, though. Despite selling out arenas all over the world, ABBA first had to overcome the powerful reach of the “Jante law”, and were for a long time rejected by Swedish audiences for not being sufficiently political. The Swedish collective psyche just couldn’t handle the guilt of having produced something commercial. Music was supposed to be a form of social protest against capitalism, not cater to the ignorant masses and make money. This elitist attitude has always been one of the most counter-productive forms of activism; one that denigrates the average person for simply wanting to have a good time. Those days are thankfully over, and Sweden is now one of the most influential centers of music production in the world, and is raking in the dough. Oh, the shame.

What really stands out about ABBA is just how damn catchy it is. It’s pop music in its simplest form; simple melodies with memorable hooks, simple lyrics that anyone can recite while inebriated and a steady beat that anyone can dance to. I say simple, but simplicity is an art form, and Björn and Benny mastered it. That’s not to say that there aren’t intricacies in the music. Whether it’s the harmonies between Anni-Frid and Agnetha or the creative instrumentation, there’s clearly a well-honed craft behind it all. Fernando remains one of the greatest pieces of popular music ever written, and most of their other hits are timeless. Well, maybe except When I Kissed The Teacher. I think that’s frowned upon these days.

Unlike my Elton John concert, there won’t be any surprises on this setlist. Just one majestic hit after the other, ending with Thank You For The Music. The encore is Dancing Queen and Waterloo. Dancing Queen for obvious reasons; it’s the song that defines them. The intro is one of the most recongizable throughout history. In fact, the song is so iconic that I would support making it the new Swedish national anthem. I reckon only a stadium full of football fans singing Dancing Queen before a match could make me care about sports. Or at the very least Does Your Mother Know. I’m nothing if not reasonable. As for Waterloo, it catapulted ABBA to stardom, so it’s only fitting that it be the final song.

Please enjoy what I would consider to be the perfect setlist for a concert by ABBA. The last two tracks are the encore.